The Modernized King’s Indian – Averbakh Variation

Welcome to the wonderful world of the Averbakh Variation against the King's In dian Defense (KID). Who would not want to have a variation against the KID that  keeps White's position completely under control, that is positional in nature and  that stays away from dark and murky waters or messy tactical situations? Many  players like to play a variation against the KID that bears the hallmark of strong  grandmasters and has stood the test of time. This book examines such a variation  with a repertoire for White and an in-depth analysis of all of Black's responses.

The Averbakh is a solid and respectable variation against the KID. It bears the name of the well-known Soviet grandmaster, theorist, and endgame specialist Averbakh. Yuri Lvovich Averbakh is the oldest living grandmaster who recently celebrated his 99th birth day in Moscow on 8 February. In the early 1950s, Averbakh was one of the first grandmasters to play the variation more  than once. He contributed greatly to the development of its theory. Averbakh used  the variation for several years, then changed course to other variations to fight the  KID. Occasionally, he returned to his old love that by then bore his name. 

The Averbakh Variation represents a shift in White's approach to the fight against  the KID. Rather than focusing solely on the queenside while accepting a certain danger of being checkmated on the other side of the board, as happens in the KID in  many lines, White uses a strategy of positional control, in which he uses the KID in  a calm, positional way. Initially, the character of the battle is indeed relatively calm  and positional, but not too calm to land in near-equal positions immediately.  White's development schedules follow strategic logic. In the following parts of the  game, White generally retains his first mover advantage, in positions where he retains control. 

The Averbakh has always been one of the best choices against the KID. Over the  years, it has been played by many strong grandmasters such as Lev Polugaevsky, Vadim Milov, Evgeny Bareev, Yasser Seirawan, Tigran Petrosian, Artur Jussupow,  Lajos Portisch, Wolfgang Uhlmann, and Margeir Petursson, many of whom played  the Averbakh throughout their entire chess career. Magnus Carlsen used it to relatively easily beat Loek van Wely in Wijk aan Zee, 2013. Boris Gelfand has played it  on many occasions with excellent results (80% in his games in Chessbase). Vassily  Ivanchuk and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov have played the Averbakh, as do the current  2700+ players Yu Yangyi and Le Quang Liem.